Peter Gash
Lady Elliot is a coral cay island located 80 kms north-east of Bundaberg, on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. In his early twenties, Peter discovered the island and its amazing beauty, both above and below the water. Coincidentally, that's where he and his now wife, Julie, became close friends and both shared a passion for the natural environment and the fragile eco-system of the island.
Peter is a licenced Pilot and has been flying tourists to the Great Barrier Reef for over 30 years. He started out operating regular scenic daytrips by seaplane from the Gold Coast to Lady Musgrave Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef. In the mid 90's, Peter took the floats off the plane and began flying guests to nearby Lady Elliot Island. Lady Elliot Island is the only coral cay island on the Great Barrier Reef with an airstrip. Peter, his family and two business partners took over the lease of the island in 2005 and has been operating the 150-bed eco resort since that time.
Peter's main motivation is Education and the Environment. Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort operates on a 'Four E's' Philosophy: To look after our Environment we need to be Efficient, Economically Sustainable and able to Educate Effectively.
In recognition of Peter's 30+ years in Queensland's dynamic tourism industry and his passion, dedication, and leadership in sustainable ecotourism, he was awarded the Marie Watson- Blake award for 'Outstanding Contribution by an Individual' at the 30th annual QLD Tourism awards in November 2014. In 2020, Peter was honoured to be awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to ecotourism and aviation.
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort has been awarded the Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism in 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Due to the previous three wins in this category, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is now a Hall of Fame recipient.
In 2019, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort won silver in the Australian Tourism Awards in Ecotourism, and in 2022 the resort was awarded the Banksia Award for Sustainable Tourism, as well as the Finder Green Award for Green Hotel of the Year.
Although awards and recognition are wonderful accolades, Peter’s main personal mission is to "inspire & encourage other people, particularly the younger generation to follow their dreams to make a difference on the planet".
Abstracts this author is presenting: